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Nicholson Fire moving towards stronger service for community

If you've driven by the Nicholson Fire Hall recently, you've probably noticed some work going on.
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There’s some construction at the Nicholson Fire Hall to add two new bays.

If you've driven by the Nicholson Fire Hall recently, you've probably noticed some work going on. Well fire chief Parker Vaile says that the current work is the first step in a plan to raise the level of service to the area.

"We're expanding the hall, and adding two bays," said Vaile. "Basically we had to do that first before we could take some other steps…The end game goal is to get the community to STSS, which is Superior Tanker Shuttle Service."

What that means is that the Nicholson Fire Department wants to increase its gallonage to 500 gallons per minute.

"It's the equivalent of having hydrants, without having to have hydrants."

To achieve that the department will need to increase its water storage at the hall, which will reach 10,000 gallons hopefully this coming spring (giving them four or five loads of water), and purchase a new tanker truck, which is tentatively purchased for the end of next year.

"That's why we needed the bays first, we need somewhere to put the truck," said Vaile. "These steps will help us better serve the community, and will help with the insurance rating of everyone in the fire district."

The boundaries of that fire district may be changing slightly. McMurdo Heights was recently added (and will take effect in the new year), and adding Chalmers, the top of Campbell Road and Mitchell Road is currently under consideration. For more information on that, contact the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD).

It will be quite some time before the department can achieve STSS, likely a couple years yet, but thanks to former chief Markus Kellenberger who got the ball rolling years ago, they are well on their way.

The current construction at the hall will likely be done by the end of the year, however the department is still fully operational in the meantime.

If anyone is interested in joining the Nicholson Volunteer Fire Department, you are welcome to come by one of their practises every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.